Kevin Appier is known for studying very hard for each start. How hard, you ask? He is even a student of Met history.

Oh yeah, Appier knew no Met had ever thrown a no-hitter. He was aware he had a no-no yesterday through five innings. But he really didn’t think he was going to become the first.

“I was aware of it,” Appier said. “The chances of that are still extremely small.”

Leading off the sixth, Shane Spencer lined a solid single to left. It ended the no-hit bid, but didn’t ruin Appier’s day. On the mound, Appier was as brilliant as a teacher with all the answers.

He took a no-decision, but he dominated for eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out eighth.

He only allowed one Yankee – Spencer in the sixth – to reach second. He was the biggest reason the Mets shut out the Yankees 3-0 in 10 innings.

Appier finished the first half with just a 5-8 record, but this is due to the Mets offense, not Appier failing to do the job.

“He’s lived up to the billing,” Bobby Valentine said.

Yesterday, Valentine said that, before the season began, he envisioned more wins from Appier – who’s had 31 over the last two years. But Valentine added that Appier’s been one of the best NL pitchers of late.

The numbers back up this claim. Over Appier’s final nine starts of the first half, he’s owned a 2.45 ERA.

If this doesn’t exemplify how bad the Met offense has been, nothing does. In those nine starts, Appier is 3-3 with three no-decisions. The Mets are 4-5 in those games.

“He is watching the flight of the ball much better into me or Mike,” said Todd Pratt, who caught Appier yesterday.

Pratt explained the reason this has improved Appier’s game, because like a hitter pulling his head at-bat, a pitcher must stay focused. It allows him to control his pitches better.

“It’s been a big improvement for him the last eight or nine starts,” Pratt said.